Draft:Urban forests in Turkey

Urban forests in Turkey (Turkish: kent ormanları) are afforested zones located within or adjacent to metropolitan areas, developed to provide recreational space, mitigate environmental stress, and strengthen ecological connectivity in urban landscapes. The concept has gained institutional support since the early 2000s, aligning with global trends in sustainable city planning and climate adaptation.

Urban forests in Turkey are typically under the authority of the General Directorate of Forestry, which operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. In larger municipalities, urban forests are often co-managed with metropolitan administrations to integrate them into city zoning plans.

Historical development

The roots of Turkey’s urban forestry initiatives can be traced back to early Republican-era afforestation projects, such as the establishment of Atatürk Orman Çiftliği in the 1920s. However, the modern concept of the “urban forest” as a distinct planning category emerged in the early 2000s. This coincided with broader national policies aimed at increasing forest cover, promoting public health, and enhancing the livability of expanding cities.

In 2004, the Ministry launched a formal program to create “Urban Forests” (Kent Ormanları) across all 81 provinces. These efforts were accelerated after the 2011–2015 Strategic Forest Plan, which identified urban forests as multifunctional green infrastructure critical for disaster resilience and social well-being.

Characteristics and distribution

Urban forests in Turkey vary significantly in size, function, and integration with local communities. Common features include:

Forested walking and cycling paths
Picnic and rest areas
Firebreaks and erosion control measures
Observation towers and educational signage

As of 2024, over 300 officially designated urban forests exist nationwide, covering tens of thousands of hectares. The most prominent are located in:

Istanbul – including Belgrad Forest, Kayışdağı Kent Ormanı, and Çekmeköy Urban Forest
Ankara – featuring Atatürk Orman Çiftliği and ODTÜ Kent Ormanı
İzmir – including Kent Ormanı in Balçova, overlooking the Gulf
Bursa, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, and Antalya – with rapidly expanding urban green zones

Ecological and social roles

Urban forests in Turkey play a range of ecological and socio-cultural roles:

**Climate regulation**: Reducing urban heat island effects through shading and evapotranspiration
**Air purification**: Absorbing CO₂ and filtering particulates
**Disaster mitigation**: Serving as buffers against landslides, floods, and forest fires
**Recreation and health**: Providing residents with accessible green spaces for physical activity and psychological well-being
**Biodiversity corridors**: Connecting fragmented habitats for native flora and fauna

Many urban forests also host environmental education programs and nature-based tourism activities. The Ministry reports that urban forests receive millions of visitors annually, especially during spring and summer.

Governance and planning

Urban forests are regulated primarily by the General Directorate of Forestry, which classifies them separately from natural reserves, national parks, or production forests. Local municipalities are responsible for maintenance, access infrastructure, and integration with city-level land use plans. In some cases, metropolitan municipalities collaborate with NGOs or educational institutions to co-manage urban forest assets.

The 2019 “Urban Green Infrastructure Strategy” introduced by the Ministry emphasizes connectivity between green zones, aiming to link urban forests with greenways, river corridors, and public parks. The program also promotes participatory planning, allowing communities to shape how nearby forests are used and preserved.

Challenges

Despite their growing popularity, urban forests in Turkey face multiple challenges:

**Encroachment and land pressure**: As cities expand, forest perimeters are often threatened by infrastructure projects and illegal settlements.
**Fire risk**: Proximity to populated areas increases vulnerability to anthropogenic fires, particularly in Mediterranean regions during summer.
**Maintenance funding**: Some forests suffer from inadequate facilities, poor signage, or degraded walking paths due to limited municipal budgets.
**Public engagement**: In certain areas, forest zones are underutilized due to a lack of awareness or restricted access caused by steep terrain or security concerns.

List of urban forests by province

The following is a non-exhaustive list of provinces in Turkey that host one or more officially designated urban forests (kent ormanı):

Province	Notable Urban Forests
Adana	Yüreğir Kent Ormanı, Sarıçam Kent Ormanı
Ankara	Atatürk Orman Çiftliği, ODTÜ Kent Ormanı, Eymir Kent Ormanı
Antalya	Kepez Kent Ormanı, Korkuteli Kent Ormanı
Aydın	Efeler Kent Ormanı
Balıkesir	Altıeylül Kent Ormanı, Gönen Kent Ormanı
Bursa	Balaban Kent Ormanı, Osmangazi Kent Ormanı
Çanakkale	Barbaros Kent Ormanı
Denizli	Bağbaşı Kent Ormanı
Diyarbakır	Silvan Kent Ormanı
Eskişehir	Kent Ormanı (Tepebaşı), Sazova Park Forest Zone
Gaziantep	Erikçe Kent Ormanı, Dülükbaba Ormanı
Hatay	Defne Kent Ormanı
Istanbul	Belgrad Forest, Çekmeköy Kent Ormanı, Kayışdağı Kent Ormanı, Kemerburgaz Kent Ormanı
İzmir	Balçova Kent Ormanı, Karşıyaka Kent Ormanı
Kahramanmaraş	Mağralı Kent Ormanı
Kars	Kent Ormanı (Merkez)
Kocaeli	Seka Kent Ormanı, Başiskele Kent Ormanı
Konya	Meram Kent Ormanı, Beyşehir Kent Ormanı
Manisa	Spil Kent Ormanı
Mersin	Tarsus Kent Ormanı
Muğla	Milas Kent Ormanı, Ortaca Kent Ormanı
Ordu	Boztepe Kent Ormanı
Sakarya	Serdivan Kent Ormanı
Samsun	Atakum Kent Ormanı
Şanlıurfa	Karaköprü Kent Ormanı
Trabzon	Akyazı Kent Ormanı
Van	Edremit Kent Ormanı

Note: The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has designated over 300 urban forests across Turkey. This table includes prominent or publicly documented examples as of 2024.

References